Intro to Photography
Cameras: SLR or Point & Shoot?
By Dave
In order to write this month's column I studied the specifications and prices on 15 of the most popular Point & Shoots and 24 of the most popular 35mm SLR's. If you're already a photography buff thinking of buying a new camera or someone just getting into photography, I think you will find the information to be helpful.
Point & Shoots have become very popular, with good reason. They are a great little camera to throw into a purse or luggage and snap pictures at a party or on vacation. Prices range from under $100 to $700. They're easy to use, small, light and can be purchased with some interesting options. All come with auto load, auto advance, auto exposure (not too sophisticated on most models), auto rewind, tripod mount and built in flash. Most have a zoom lens (not the best) and self timers. Some offer multiple exposure capability as well as a small degree of exposure compensation. The top of the line models offer choices of shooting "modes", such as Portraiture, Landscape, Action, Close-Up and Slow-Sync as well as different metering modes. A few of the most expensive models have aperture or shutter priority settings.
SLR's have been around for some time. Prices range from $250 to $2850. Even the lower priced modern SLR's offer the ease of use of a Point & Shoot and lots more. Interchangeable lenses, full manual mode, filter capabilities, through the lens viewing, depth of field preview, sync-cord and cable release connections and a hot shoe are some options that you just can't get on Point & Shoot cameras.
Which camera is best for you?. Price really isn't a factor since you can purchase a good 35mm SLR (lens included) for the same cost of an upper range Point & Shoot, about $330. The SLR is something you can grow into and add options to, not so with the Point & Shoot. Let's take a look at some of the items not available on Point & Shoot cameras and see how important they are to your photography needs.
- Interchangeable Lenses: You can always start with an inexpensive, all-around lens like a 35-80mm f/4.0-5.6. As your interests and style develops you can purchase others that will fill your photography needs.
- Filter Capabilities: If you want to shoot under all types of artificial light, want that deep blue sky or bright fall colors you need to use filters.
- Throught the Lens Viewing: What you see is what you get. A camera strap or finger over the lens can be seen.
- Depth of Field Preview: The only way to be really sure that the background is out of focus or that all of the subject is sharp.
- Manual Mode: Having the ability to control the aperture and shutter speed allows you to adjust that depth of field (above), freeze or blur motion, get that "glowing, warm light" of a candle or record fireworks. It also allows you to override your cameras metering system when photographing white/light subjects and black/dark subjects so they don't turn out grey. If you rely only on your camera's metering, grey is what you will get (we will touch more on this in future articles.)
- Cable Release Connection: If your going to shoot long exposures (night cityscape or fireworks) this handy gadget will help to keep the camera steady.
- Sync Cable Connection: You will need this to attach your camera to flash sources other than the on camera flash.
- Hot Shoe: This will allow you to use more powerful flash units, radio and infrared sync systems.
Decide which, if any, of the above SLR options are important to the kind of photography your doing (be sure to take into account what your future needs will be) then choose the camera type that suits your needs. If it's a Point and Shoot, buy the best you can afford and I would suggest getting one with:
- Tripod mount
- Exposure compensation
- Self-timer
- Some type of shooting modes.
- Spot metering
If you really want to learn photography and have all of it's creative options available buy a 35mm SLR. I would consider the following options necessary on a new purchase.
- Manual or manual override metering system
- Through the lens spot metering
- Full range of shutter speeds
- Auto film advance
- Depth of field preview
- Wide assortment of lenses and accessories like Canon, Minolta or Nikon)
- Auto focus
- Interchangeable focusing screens
- Hot shoe, sync and cable release connections.
Should you have any specific questions regarding this months column or on photography in general, please email me at: gryln@concentric.net. Be sure to visit my web site for complete information on my services and prices.
Next month: Lighting
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